Corbin Maldera, a fairly low noble that's abruptly found himself high in Western Aquālos's line of succession.
Big fluffy dragons that are secretly most of Aquālos's upper class/nobility. Can disguise themselves as human and have for a very long time. Unlike most forms of illusion willpowers, they can physically transform themselves. They're a good example of Wild Magic.
Super colorful surreal city full of object heads. Ruled by a council of disorganized dorks names after various literary concepts.
Split off from Aqualos (now Western Aqualos) during the civil war. western aqualos's shitty poorer younger sibling
anyways the reason this is relevant is because then it got me thinking "well if there's an ethereal matter, then there must be an ethereal energy, right?" and here's where i've managed to fill in a blank
i knew that i wanted ethereal matter to be integral to powering technology like trains and shit (rather than electricity etc) but matter is... matter, it doesn't make things move, it is the thing that is moved, to put it really stupidly
dark energy makes the universe expand, so ethereal energy is similar. when you think abt it, dark energy is basically infinite and constantly in motion
"Ethereal matter," as it is known in Luxma, has properties both similar to exotic baryons and dark matter. They form an entire alternate periodic table. It's both the glue that holds the universe together, what thoughts are made out of, and why sentience is possible.
All things exist on a spectrum of ethereal to physical. On the far physical end, you have things like rocks or dirt – things that have no semblance of being alive. Plants come next, then non-sentient animals, and then in the middle you have humans. Humans are perfectly one half physical, and one half ethereal.
Naturally, nothing natively from Luxma exists past this point. However, the world that the suzi come from is comprised entirely of things on the ethereal spectrum. The suzi themselves are beings completely comprised of ethereal matter, and the collision of the two worlds has provided excess ethereal matter and energy into the world.
This is how the tenebraum, or tumult, happened. Where the layers between the worlds were thin, parts of the suzi's world would spill out and the excess ethereal matter would influence the surrounding area. Not only were the animals lifted to greater intelligence, but the very land itself took on a mind of its own, becoming shifting, ever-changing, and unpredictable.
- Native to Síagh
- Reclusive scholars, generally humanoid but with varying numbers of eyes–ranging from 1 to 20
- Extreme distrust of humans, though more friendly towards Síaghans/Síaghan descendents
- Rumored they’re descended from a group of Síaghans that were trapped outside the cities during the Tiercian Era and corrupted with suzi influence
- Capable of bonding to a suzi companion and utilizing willpowers
- Looks down upon any child born with exactly two eyes, or one that does not exhibit above average intelligence
- Usually these outcasts go to integrate themselves into human societies
so if you can somehow harness this stuff that shoves nothingness around, you have an infinite power source. that's basically impossible irl as far as we're concerned but with the power of hand wavey fantasy land we can pretend that it can only interact with ethereal matter
ethereal matter, in turn, is capable of interacting with the physical matter around it, and when you move a physical matter around, you create physical energy. i choose not to dive any deeper into how this works bc i am not a particle physicist
so this means a conversion from ethereal energy -> physical energy IS possible but it has to go through a lot of conversions, which don't really naturally occur, except in life. particularly sentient life
so tl;dr what powers luxma machines is human engines. human mages that are capable of manipulating their ethereal half are able to harness ethereal energy and use it to power machines. the end
Lux Tenebras is a post-apocalyptic science fantasy that is like if Middens met Fullmetal Alchemist, had a horrible baby with Made in Abyss, and that baby turned out to be gay.
Around 2000 years ago, the tumult began to appear. This started as simply areas that caused vertigo or confusion, but eventually developed into wild, twisted landscapes that distorted the life within. For the average human being, it's completely inhospitable.
Humanity found that safety literally came in numbers. Areas that were densely populated were difficult for the tumult to spread, so humanity became isolated to small city-states.
Technology improved and through various means over the past 500 years, humans have slowly been able to reclaim their footing on their bizarre, colorful, surreal, and deadly world.
Liminality, in all senses of the word, is the main theme of this setting.
Warning: Lux Tenebras is a story for mature adults that deals with many sensitive and disturbing topics. Please be warned.
Places to start: Ethereal vs Physical Matter
Copyright (c) 2014, Danielo Rodriguez
All rights reserved.
Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
* Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this
list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
* Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice,
this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation
and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE
FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR
SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER
CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY,
OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
Luxus Firma, commonly abbreviated to Luxma, is the Aqualian name for the planet on which this whole setting exists.
By exercising one’s ethereal half, one is able to exert their will on the ethereal aspects of other things. This is usually done with the intent of also affecting the corresponding physical form. It is often described as trying to exercise a muscle you never really think about.
While it only developed within the past 1000 years, it quickly became considered very common parlance. It's not considered "mystical" or "magical" by any means. See Wild Magic for what the people of Luxma truly consider to be myth.
The study of willpowers and the usage of willpowers are two very different skills. Consider it similar to computer science and IT. One is about academic analysis and research experiments, and the other is more about hands-on real world experience and problem solving.
“Though we suffer, we suffer for many. Though of different origins, we bleed the same blood. Though miles apart, we are all brothers and sisters. Though we follow different paths, we all die the same death. Though man, we are God.”
Summary
Named after its alleged founder, Saint Tiercius, they are are an order dedicated to the elimination of aggressive suzi. Members are widely known as one of very few people who are capable of defeating a nisuzi in single combat, and are responsible for humanity’s triumph over the nisuzi in Tiercius’ time.
Abilities
A Tiercian knight’s strength comes from the fact that they ingest large quantities of izisuzi flesh/material at least every other day. The specific dose depends upon their stature, but it is generally always the maximum dose they can consume at once without killing themselves. The izisuzi flesh ingrains itself into their own human soul, enabling them to push their body and senses to limits usually impossible by a human being. Their eyesight becomes capable of watching and predicting their opponents every move, their reflexes impossibly fast. They are capable of completely turning off their ability to feel pain, leading to some incredible feats of strength and fortitude. Not only are they capable of taking hits, but stretching their body to limits that would horribly tax any regular human being.
It also amplifies their willpowers to be on par with that of a fully ethereal creature – notably, this means that they can compete with the nisuzi's foresight. The nisuzi can no longer stay ahead of its opponents actions. Everything else is essentially a bonus – this edge alone is what allows the knights to kill them.
However, they have to be careful, because their body does not improve along with their willpower. While they are capable of healing faster than a regular human, if their arm is removed in the heat of battle, it's still gone, even if they can’t feel the severed nerves at the moment. They also aren’t capable of maintaining such a high powered state for a very long time, as it is incredibly taxing on their mind as well as their body, and they will feel the pain later.
These superhuman abilities also come at a number of other costs. These don't always, but can include:
- Severe nausea
- Lack of appetite
- Constant phantom voices (you become privvy to the suzi “hivemind”),
- Lack of reproductive ability
- Severe insomnia
- Random severe unpreventable pain
- Migraines
- Lack of empathy and emotion
These effects are worst immediately after taking their dose of izisuzi flesh, but can sometimes persist. Many knights will, at some point in time, seek out questionably legal ways to cope with these problems.
While it does lengthen your lifetime significantly, you are doomed to eventually “die” by becoming more suzi than man–“we all die the same death.” As your human soul rots off with age, the suzi matter will slowly replace it. Eventually, you will no longer be in control of your own thoughts and actions as you become a mass of mixed human and izisuzi soul. You will lose the capability to feel emotion and pain... which isn’t necessarily immediately dangerous. However, the risk is when you begin to become corrupted, and the izisuzi matter turns nisuzi. Having a combination of the three wrecks havoc on your soul, and leads to unpredictable and often destructive behavior. At this point, another knight will be employed to put you down.
All Tiercian knights know the suzi languages to varying degrees. A certain level of understanding comes with ingesting suzi matter, but with that basic level of understanding you need to focus intently and listen to someone speaking clearly to know what they’re saying. It’s possible to become more fluent through further training – it’s simply a matter of if the individual knight deems it worthwhile. Some knights can understand it but not speak it, whereas others can do both. Writing it is a different skill entirely, as knights may not necessarily be literate.
Joining The Order
The only requirement one must have to apply is they must possess an izisuzi companion. The order is also traditionally joined by humans. However, human-like beings that are capable of having suzi companions are not necessarily going to be turned away, though they are very uncommon.
The order does not care about family history or previous behaviors in your life–if you are able-bodied with a suzi companion, you’re permitted to begin the rigorous training process. For many people, it offers a way to start a new life with a clean slate.
The initial training is rigorous and harsh, with many recruits being forced to fight each other to the death to determine who is the strongest. They are starved and deprived of sleep to test their physical limits. Despite the deadly training, people go through with it and succeed–generally those with nothing to lose.
After being deemed of suitable mental and physical endurance, they take their first dose of izisuzi flesh. A recruit must ingest izisuzi matter for a week and survive before they are allowed to become a member of the order and granted a name. They are granted a name personally by the current Tiercius, the significance and meaning of the names known only unto him.
After this, their training begins. Several years are spent training a recruit in as many ways of combat as possible, as well as teaching them how to utilize their unusual type of willpowers. Survival skills and anything else that could be possibly useful when wandering the world and stalking their prey is also taught.
After this, a recruit must become a nomad for a minimum of five years, wandering the world to help people and learn what can’t be taught in by the order’s tutors. They hone their skills by solving the problems of civilians around the world, (usually) only requesting that the people pay them what they can reasonably afford–whether that’s a hundred golden coins or a warm place to spend the night.
When they return, they are granted full status as a knight with all of the prestige it brings, but after that most knights continue to be wandering mercenaries. Some remain at their home in Aqualos to train new recruits or become scholars and help run the order.
Morality
While formed with the best intentions, the order has, over time, become rather lawless. While expectations are high within its walls, outside of their home in Aqualos, knights can really get away with whatever they want. However, there are four rules they are supposed to follow:
- Do not refuse orders from a superior.
- Do not use your abilities for personal gain.
- Do not use your abilities to support national conflicts.
- Do not, under any circumstance, favor a suzi over a human life.
If a knight breaks these rules, they must be very careful that their superiors do not find out–any breaking of these rules can be seen as a sign of the suzi influence taking over and is punishable by death.
During the years humanity was stranded inside giant walled cities and hunted relentlessly by nisuzi, the wildlife began to grow and change. The excess ethereal matter raised many animals and objects to sentience, and eventually they created communities, towns, and cities. With a few exceptions, nonhumans and humans were relatively unaware of each other until the rise of the Tiercian Knights, when humanity finally strayed outside into the tumult.
The geography of the tumult is ever-changing, though things stay generally sort of in the same place. Most of the time.
The bigger and meaner of the two countries that were Aquālos. Home to the largest non-tumultuous city on Luxma, Sanctuary.
Ruled by a regex (king) and parliament/council. Eligibility for the throne is determined by familial proximity to the previous ruler and some object that only responds to the "worthy" – those who are dragons.